Chelsea’s defensive department has been hit by an injury crisis this season, with the likes of Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana all unavailable for Enzo Maresca, resulting in his squad being trimmed.
Nevertheless, Chelsea remain seventh in the Premier League standings with two defeats in seven games, and also recorded their first Champions League win of the season against Benfica before the international break.
How long they can maintain their form without some key defenders is now the big question looming for the Blues, even as they try to solve their problems by entering the transfer market over the winter.
According to offsideChelsea are preparing a move in January for Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo, who has been linked to them for several months and would be the ideal answer to their defensive problems.
Araujo switch possible in January
Of the 10 games Barcelona have played in all competitions, Ronald Araujo has done so started and led them in six outingsindicating he remains an important part of Hansi Flick’s squad this season.
That does not mean that a transfer for him in January would not be possible. Chelsea could make the most of Barcelona’s precarious financial situation by luring away a player they have been wanting to sell since earlier this year.
That was Ronald Araujo valued at £61 million by Barcelona at the start of the year, and as they look to balance their books, it’s reasonable to think that such an offer from Chelsea would convince them to sell the Uruguayan.
Should Barca try to push him out, Araujo could also welcome a challenge in the Premier League, and his standout attributes such as physicality, reading the game and passing skills would help him slot into Enzo Maresca’s system without much problem.
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